OpenAI's Sora Aims to Transform Hollywood, But Studios Hesitant Over AI Concerns
February 5, 2025
Following Sora's launch, OpenAI executives, including CEO Sam Altman, engaged with Hollywood stakeholders during industry events in Los Angeles to showcase the tool's capabilities.
OpenAI, valued at $157 billion and known for its AI tool ChatGPT, introduced Sora in early 2024 to compete with emerging tech startups that generate realistic video clips from text prompts.
Hollywood studios are particularly concerned about how AI companies might use their data and the potential backlash from labor unions, especially following recent strikes over AI usage.
Unlike the music and publishing industries, which have seen significant legal actions regarding AI, the movie industry is progressing more slowly in embracing AI's commercial potential.
Screenwriters and actors have called for stricter oversight on tech companies to prevent the unauthorized use of their work, adding to the studios' caution.
Some filmmakers, however, are open to experimenting with Sora as a creative tool, indicating potential for future collaboration.
OpenAI has been in discussions with major film studios, including Walt Disney Co., Comcast's Universal Pictures, and Warner Bros. Discovery, to explore the creative and commercial potential of Sora.
Despite these discussions, OpenAI is cautious about rushing into commercial partnerships, emphasizing the need for feedback from the film industry before proceeding.
Brad Lightcap, OpenAI's COO, reiterated the importance of taking time to develop partnerships and valuing industry feedback, suggesting that rushing into agreements may be premature.
These discussions have yet to result in formal deals, primarily due to the studios' hesitance regarding data usage and labor union relations.
OpenAI has proposed developing a customized version of Sora for specific studios to utilize in their projects.
Overall, while the talks aim to explore Sora's potential, no formal agreements have been reached due to the ongoing hesitance from the studios.
Summary based on 4 sources
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Sources

Bloomberg • Feb 5, 2025
OpenAI’s Sora Filmmaking Tool Meets Resistance in Hollywood
Yahoo Finance • Feb 5, 2025
OpenAI’s Sora Filmmaking Tool Meets Resistance in Hollywood
South China Morning Post • Feb 5, 2025
Lights, camera, no AI action: Hollywood hesitates on OpenAI’s Sora video tool
TV News Check • Feb 5, 2025
OpenAI’s Sora Filmmaking Tool Meets Resistance In Hollywood - TV News Check